Mother, boyfriend charged with murder in death of toddler

Tenisha Renea Wells, 25, charged with murder in the death of her toddler (Source: Meckenburg County Sheriff's Office)

Patrick Jamal Chambers, 28, charged with murder in the death of his girlfriend's toddler (Source: Meckenburg County Sheriff's Office)

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) -

A woman and her boyfriend have been charged with murder in the death of toddler in east Charlotte.

According to police, 25-year-old Tenisha Renea Wells and her boyfriend, 28-year-old Patrick Jamal Chambers were arrested and charged with murder.

Last week, officers and MEDIC were called to a home on Farm Pond Lane where a two-year-old boy was unresponsive.

Wells, Chambers and several children were at the home when police arrived, according to search warrants. The child was taken to Presbyterian Hospital, but was later pronounced dead.

According to reports, the boy was taken to the hospital just two days earlier for leg pain after Wells, his mother, said he fell at daycare.

When an autopsy was performed on the child, the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner’s Office said the two-year old had a lighter burn on his body, subdural hematoma, a lacerated liver, broken ribs and bruising throughout his body.

The next day, the Medical Examiner determined that the boy’s death was a homicide.

Late last week, officers reportedly seized nearly 20 items from the home including dumbells, a hatchet, hot glue gun, broom handles and fireplace pokers.

Wells and Chambers were arrested Tuesday morning and booked in the Mecklenburg County jail.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-432-TIPS and speak directly to a Homicide Unit Detective. Detective Burkard is the lead detective assigned to the case.